A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl from Denbighshire has been struck by the deadly stomach bug E.coli 0157.

The youngster got ill at a dance camp where another 11-year-old girl was also hit with the infection.

The 11-year-old from the West Midlands was last night being treated in hospital and the North Wales girl was recovering at home.

Both stayed at Dance Camp Wales, held annually on a farm in Cresselly, Pembrokeshire.

Organisers of the event, which attracts hundreds from across Europe, are investigating with Pembrokeshire Council and the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHSW).

Symptoms of E.coli infection range from diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever to kidney failure and even death in the most severe of cases.

It is the second outbreak of the potentially-deadly bug in Wales this month. A chip shop in Llay, Wrexham is still at the centre of an investigation after four people got ill. They included new mum Karen Morrisroe-Clutton, 31, who last week came out of a coma when kidney failure left her life in the balance.

Three-year-old Abigail Hennessey was in hospital for three weeks but is now back home recovering in Llay.

Freddy Edmonds, spokesman for Dance Camp Wales, which has 650 members, said the event had been running for 22 years with no such problem before.

He said participants often camp and cook outdoors at the 10-day event, and are warned to encourage good hygiene.

He said: “We are very concerned for the children affected and our hearts go out to their families.”

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire council said the infected girls are not related, but the one thing they have in common is that they both attended the dance camp.

“Investigations are ongoing to try to trace the origin of this outbreak,” he said.

“At the moment we are keeping our options open as to whether it’s from food or soil.”

He said he believed there was an outlet selling vegetarian food on site, but most people made their own provision.

Public protection officials are also looking into what toilet facilities had been put in place at the site.

Dr Jörg Hoffmann, consultant in communicable disease control for the NPHSW, said: “People can become infected with E.coli by direct or indirect contact with animal faeces, particularly on farms and sites used for camping, and swimming in or drinking unchlorinated water.

“The illness can also be associated with contact with an infected person or eating contaminated food.

“We urge anyone who attended the event who is now having, or has recovered from, symptoms associated with E.coli infection to observe strict personal hygiene to prevent further spread of the illness.

“People should wash and dry their hands thoroughly after going to the toilet and before preparing or eating food.”

Anyone experiencing symptoms that may be associated with E.coli should contact their GP or out of hours service for medical advice urgently. Pembrokeshire County Council’s public protection department is on 01437 764551.